Delaware one of only nine states to execute in 2012

Delaware is one of only nine states to carry out an execution in 2012.

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By Staff Reports

Middletown Transcript

By Staff Reports

Posted Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Updated Dec 21, 2012 at 1:26 PM

By Staff Reports

Posted Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Updated Dec 21, 2012 at 1:26 PM

Wilmington, Del.

Delaware is one of only nine states to carry out an execution in 2012.

According to a report released by the Death Penalty Information Center, 29 states have not carried out an execution in five years or do not have the death penalty in state statute. After not carrying out an execution since 2005, Delaware executed one person in each of the past two years. Since 1976, Delaware has executed 16 individuals. Only Texas and Oklahoma have executed more frequently on a per capita basis.

The number of states without the death penalty increased again this year as Connecticut joined 16 other states. Illinois repealed their death penalty in 2011. New York, New Jersey, and New Mexico also recently abandoned the use of capital punishment resulting in a total of five states in five years that have decided that the death penalty is not effective, cost efficient, or fairly applied public policy.